Rail trail a good, but expensive, idea: MP

The Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative (from L-R Julie Melanson, Brad Clements, Shawn Cameron, and Josh Dueck) is urging federal, provincial and municipal governments to work together in preserving the corridor.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON /InfoTel Multimedia)

June 10, 2014 - 4:40 PM

VERNON - Federal, provincial and municipal governments are discussing the fate of the Okanagan rail corridor.

Colin Mayes, Okanagan-Shuswap MP, says there was a meeting of elected representatives at the federal, provincial and municipal levels about the possibility of preserving the land for use as a recreational corridor.

“I feel the corridor is very important to the valley and a great opportunity,” Mayes says.

But he hears Canadian National’s price tag for the 50 kilometer stretch has been pegged around $15 million, and says it’ll be hard coming up with the money.

“What is the value to the community and to the region? All the stakeholders in the area have to determine how high we value it (land) monetarily,” Mayes says.

“As nice as that is, the fact is if this costs $15 million, the math just doesn’t add up. This is not a value for money initiative,” Mayes says. “This is something I think will add to the lifestyle, the wellness of folks in the Okanagan Valley, and be a draw for tourists as a bike and walking path, but, we’re fooling ourselves if we think this is a make money opportunity.”

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